Show case or rack



' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. B. F. SPENCER.

SHOW CASE 0R RACK.

(No Model) No. 508,445,. Patented Nov. 14. 1893.

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No. 508,445. Patented Nov. 14, 1893.

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UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN F. SPENCER, OF HASTINGS, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOW CASE OR RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 508,445, dated November 14, 1893. Application filed February 10, 1893- Serial No. 461,828. (No model.)

and useful Improvements in Show Cases or Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is designed with special reference for use in post offices, and is intended to be so arranged that letters having incorrectly or indistinctly written addresses can be exhibited where they may be identified and pointed out by the owner without requiring the attention of, or running over a large batch of letters by, the clerk in charge of the general delivery windows at post offices.

In different parts of the United States the ma or portlon of the inhabitants are foreigners and their letters bear incorrect or indistlnct addresses or foreign names, and they are therefore a source of annoyance to the post office employs and the owners of such letters. On many occasions letters for this reason pevsrdreach the parties for whom they are inen e In the present instance I have devised a case or rack which is an improvement on the case or rack shown and described in my applications for Letters Patent of the United States, filed February 20, 1892, Serial No. 422,315, and March 3, 1892, Serial No. 423,578; and 1t consists of a suitable frame having a series of rolls or shelves preferably round in cross section supported therein, and adapted to receive and sustain a letter or card in uprlght position so that the inscription can be easily and readily inspected and read; also so arranged that said rolls or shelves can be quickly thrown in and out to permit of the cards, letters or other articles being placed in or removed from their proper position.

The manner in which my invention is or may be carried into effect can best be explained and understood byreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1. is a perspective View of a sash or frame embodying my invention. Fig. 2. is a plan view of a roll or shelf, partly in section, embodying my invention. Fig. 3. is a transverse section of a roll or shelf taken on line 33 Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of modification showing slide 2, and Fig. 6. is a perspective view of the frame containing several sashes or frame showing the manner in which applicant proposes to preferably use his invention.

In the accompanying drawings A represents the frame of any ordinary or suitable shape and construction,and B B the series of shelves or rolls arranged crosswise of the frame and are either stationary or removably secured therein. Inpractice however, I prefer to make them removably secured in the frame and adjustable up and down therein to suit any size or shape of card, photograph or envelope now in use. The shelf or roll 0 as 1 shown in the drawings is preferably rounded or circular, and is preferably formed from a piece of tin or other sheet metal of suitable width and of a length suflicient to extend across the frame. The piece of metal is first bent inward along one of its longer edges to form an inward projection a, and the metal is then rolled or bent into round or circular form so as to bring the other longer edge of the metal up toward but not quite to the corner :20 formed by bending the inward projection a. The other longer side of the roll or shelf is upturned slightly away from the roll and forms a projection D, which leaves between the inward projection a and the said projection D a space or opening E, into which is placed the card or letter forinspection. The upturned projection D comes next to the glass which is usually secured in the frame to protect theartiele or letter placed therein. The frame may be furnished with as many rolls, constructed as herein described, as desired.

In order to provide for the easy and ready placing of the card or letter in the space or opening E in theshelf or roll, I provide the ends with circular shaped pieces F, and mount them eccentrically in the sides of the frame, so that the shelf or roll will upon being revolved by the catch G, be caused to expose the opening E by throwing it out away from the glass and thereby render the placing of the letter or card therein an easy operation. The shelf or roll is then revolved in the opposite or inward direction and the upturned projection comes in contact with the glass in the frame. The letter or card is thus secured in an upright position and can be inspected without any inconvenience and trouble. In

case it becomes necessary or desirable to remove the card or cards or to refill the shelf it is revolved upon its eccentric bearings by means of the catch G, which throws it outwardly away from the glass and exposes the opening or space E therein, so that it becomes readily accessible for the purpose. I use screws or plugs H, H, for this purpose, and they are passed through slots 0 in the sides of the frame and enter holes 3, formed eccentrically in the ends of the shelves or rolls, and they permit the shelves to be revolved either away from or toward the glass as here inbefore stated. In order to prevent the heads of the screws II entering too far into the slots 0, I employ washers (1 upon the screws H, which washers form a smooth hearing against the side of the frame and in case it be desirable to move the roll up or down in the frame it can be accomplished by exerting slight force upon the shelves or rolls in either direction; or in lieu of the screw or plugs and slots, I find that a bead 1, formed upon the inner side of the frame and a slide 2 to receive said bead to which is secured the roll or shelves (see Figs. 4 and 5) answer the purpose just as well.

In practice I propose to use aframe Z having a suitable number of grooves Z, similar to a window frame, to receive a corresponding number of small frames A. made as hereinbefore described, and these frames are made to slide up and down in the main frame Z by means of weights or springs as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, or similar to the manner in which window sashes and frames are located and manipulated with respect to each other.

In conclusion I would state that my invention is admirably adapted for exhibiting cards bearing photographs and advertisements of any sort.

Having fully described my invention and the mannerin which the same is or may be carried into efiecflwhatl claim herein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a show case or rack, the combination of aframe, and a roll or shelf provided with a longitudinal groove or slot adapted to receive a card due, said roll or shelf being eccentrically mounted in said frame substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.

2. In a show case or rack, the combination of a suitable frame, one or more rolls or shelves, provided with a longitudinal groove or slot for the purposes described, and adapted to be secured cross-wiseof and adjustable up and down in said frame as set forth.

3. In a show case or rack the combination of a suitable frame, and a roll or shelf secured therein, consisting of a piece of sheet metal bent to form a groove or slot between its two opposite longer edges, the inner edge being next to the enter one which extends upwardly to form a parallel projection, as D, substantially as described.

4. A show case or rack consisting of a suitable l'rame, a plurality of sashes, carried by said frame and adapted to be moved up and down therein, one or more rolls or shelves secured in said sash or sashes, said roll or shelves being provided with a longitudinal slot orgroove adapted to receive and support a card, photograph, letter or like device, substantially as set forth.

5. A show case or rack consisting of a suitable frame, a plurality of sashes carried by said frame, and adapted to be moved up and down therein, one or more rolls or shelves secured in said sashes, said rolls or shelves consisting of apiece of sheet metal having its two opposite longer ends bent toward each other to form a longitudinal slot or groove, one of said longer edges projecting slightly upward beyond the other or opposite longer edge, substantially as and for the purposes set fOIth.

6. In a show case or rack,the combination ofa frame, of suitable construction and a roll or shelf consisting of a piece of sheet metal bent to form a groove between its two longer sides, said groove being adapted to receive and support a letter, card or like article in upright position as set forth.

7. In a show case or rack, the combination of a suit-able frame, and a roll or shelf secured therein, consisting of a piece of sheet metal having one of its longer sides b'entinwardly at a substantially right angle to form antinward projection a, and the other or opposite longer side bent toward the first mentioned side to form a longitudinal slot or. recessto receive and support a letter, card due. in .upright position substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDXVIN F. SPENCER.

Witnesses:

EWELL A. DIcK, N. CURTIS LAMMOND. 

